Tia has a tumour... (Sad Update)

[WELOVESPUPPIES]

My son had a pet hairless rat, Molly, when he was little. She was the coolest gal ever. She developed pneumonia and was taken to the vet as it came on so sudden I thought she was dying and wanted to have her PTS while he was in school. She was bleeding from the nose and everything. When I arrived at the vets, full of tears, they checked her out and said it was pneumonia. They could put her down or I could try antibiotics and an injection of steroids. I figured Molly deserved a chance and so did my son to say goodbye. She got better. A few days later she developed a tiny little pea size lump in about the same area as your Tia. I knew what it was and her age was unknown, as we got her as an adult and she was at least 1.5 years, so we were guessing 2-2.5. I did not take her back to the vet as the vet told me when she had pneumonia that their life expectancy is only about 3 years. I did not want to put her through surgery so we watched and waited for any sign of discomfort. The lump grew fairly rapidly. It was about the size of a quarter, but not perfectly round, and I noticed that it was starting to interfere with walking but she still did not appear to be in pain. I had to make the decision to put her down just previous to the holidays(for anyone who has children will understand, I could not bare to have my little boy wake one morning near Christmas and her be gone). It was a very difficult decision to make but that is what we are here for, to love them while we have them but to make the right decision to let them go when we know it is for the best. IMO I would not put her through the surgery. Molly had been a completely happy healthy girl up until the pneumonia and I often wonder if that was cancer to, maybe in her lungs(?). We bought her about 6 months of time after the pneumonia and then she went to the RB. If I have to do it again I would do the same thing(of course considering the age of the rat first). I wish you much luck and hope that Tia just had a benign tumor.

[Babyboonie]

Zara i'm so sorry to hear about beautiful Tia - like many others, my heart sank when I saw the title of this thread.

Did you manage to get to a vet today? I've got my fingers crossed for Tia, but know that whatever you decide is going to be right for her.

Keep us updated. ((((((hugs))))))

[Miss Z]

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and words.

Tia went to the vet on Monday as planned, and I phoned my mum as soon as I could that day (I was on a school trip in the Peak District). The vet gave her a check up and confirmed that it's most likely a mammary tumour. He couldn't put his finger on whether it was malignant or benign, but he did say that at the end of the day it doesn't make much difference treatment wise. Apparently, the tumour had swollen quite a bit during the night, and the vet suspects that there is some sort of infection within it, most likely mastitis. She has a week's worth of antibiotic oral solution, and then it's decision time.

I'm doing my best to reach a decision, and like many of you have mentioned, I'm leaning towards her not having the op. I know that I would feel like I sent her to her death if she just didn't survive the anaesthetic. Then again, if I just let the tumour run its course and then braced myself for the final outcome, I wouldn't be able to stop myself thinking that perhaps the op could have helped. One thing I have decided, though, is that if the mastitis is not stopped by her medication and she starts to experience pain, then I will take action. I couldn't leave her to suffer.

In her self, she has been well today, she was a little lethargic yesterday but I think the antibiotics make her a bit drowsy. She really hates the stuff, poor girl. Today we put some honey on the end of the syringe to encourage her to take it (she's now realised what comes out of the syringe and she won't take it for anyone!) and I made a huge fuss of her when she reluctantly gulped down the last mouthful of the medicine.

I have to be straight - whatever happens, it's the beginning of the end. I just have to decide how much I can prolong the end until it becomes unfair for Tia.

I'll take some pics of her this week and post them, I think it's high time you saw her again.

Thanks again everyone, Tia sends heartfelt kisses!

[Zippy]

Oh Zara I am so sorry that Tia is sick.(((HUGS)))

[Suki Wingy]

Oh Zara ((hugs)) I have tears in my eyes just reading this and how well you are dealing, I can't imagine...

[moosmom]

Oh Zara,

I'm so sorry. You, girl, have a heart of gold. Know that we are here for you. Give Tia hugs and kisses from Winkie and me. She know's she is loved and she was very lucky to have you in her life.

(((((HUGS)))))

Donna

[My Peanuts]

Zara, I'm so sorry to hear Tia is not doing well. Prayers are on the way.

I'm about to be a rat mom for the first time, my boys were born about 2 weeks ago and they come home in the middle of next month. From all that I read, short life spans tend to be a curse for the rat mom. Even though her life seems short, it is in fact a full life for a rat and no matter the outcome, that should bring you comfort.

Zara, you are very mature, not just for your age but for an adult, and if it comes to you making that very very tough choice I know you will choose the right thing.

[moosmom]

Zara, you are very mature, not just for your age but for an adult, and if it comes to you making that very very tough choice I know you will choose the right thing

I couldn't have said it better, My Peanuts.

[Muddy4paws]

I couldn't have said it better, My Peanuts.

I third that.

Im sorry to hear it not good news.

What ever you choose to do It will be the best for Tia.

[Miss Z]

Oh my, everyone, I really don't know what to say. You guys are some of the greatest friends I have, even though I've yet to meet any of you. Thank you all SO much for being there for me and Tia. It means a lot.

((hugs))

Tia's been more active today and has been running around my room like she always has done this afternoon. The tumour doesn't feel any bigger yet, and still there's no sign of pain when I touch it, so hopefully we've killed of this infection before it took hold.

Pics should be up either tomorrow or Saturday, I had a little photoshoot with her this afternoon and she was a very good little girl and posed for the camera.

I'll update this thread every now and then when there are any updates that you may wish to be informed of.

Diana, I wish you the best of luck with your future rat-kids, you will love being a rat mum for the first time. And it is true that the short rodent life is a curse for all rodent owners, but I am sure that you will treasure every minute you have with your little buddies just as much as I do with Tia. You'll never forget a moment.

And thanks again, to all who have been sending good vibes, thoughts and prayers.

[Miss Z]

Just a little update.

Tia finished her course of medication, and we took her to the vet again yesterday. He had a feel of the tumour and whilst he doesn't think it's much bigger (which could mean that it will grow slowly - we can only live in hope), as the antibiotics didn't reduce it, then it's definitely a mammary tumuor.

We discussed all aspects of treatment. I just can't put her through the op. All the stress and pain she will experience with a small chance of her surviving the anaesthetic anyway, plus knowing full well that it could be fruitless and it could come back, it's not fair on her.

There is steroid treatment that she can be prescribed that could slow down the growth of the tumuor, but these have so many side-effects including making her aggressive and even shortening her life span anyway, so I'm not prepared to risk that.

Instead we agreed that we will just monitor how it goes. If there ever does appear to be a rapid growth in the lump or it seems to be causing her pain, we can telephone the surgery and collect some more antibiotics and anti-inflammitory solutions. I can't say I'm satisfied, but I think we have chosen the safest and kindest method of 'treatment' for Tia.

Thanks for continued support and prayers. She's been doing really well lately, pretty much as full of life as she always has been, and still loving her food!

[Chilli]

I'm glad you've pretty much come to a conclusion on what you're going to do. It must put your mind at ease a bit. I know Tia is in great hands, and you're doing a great thing by thinking of her well-being first.

Again, ((((hugs)))) to you & Tia. You both are still in my thoughts.

[My Peanuts]

Any updates on Tia? I hope she is doing well.

[Miss Z]

Any updates on Tia? I hope she is doing well.

Thanks, Diana, I'd forgotten that I needed to update this thread.

Yes, she seems to be getting through life quite comfortably, but I must say she has slowed down a lot physically. I think I recognise this purely as old age kicking in rather than the result of the tumour, although I don't suppose it's helping. Of course, there's life in the old rat yet, she's still keep to wander around my room and come and sit on my lap in the garden when weather permits us to do so, but she's no where near as lively and wriggly as she once was and is much more content to sit still and be fussed over than ever before. I've also noticed that she has a bit of bother getting up the ramps to the different levels of her cage; almost dragging herself up on the ladder, which is quite steep, and I have helped her up on a few occasions. Once she's level again, she moves normally except her steps are ever so slightly more laboured. I wondered, do rats sometimes suffer from artheritis? I've checked her over and she definitely has no injuries to any of her limbs, but I have noticed for some time her back legs do seem stiffer than they used to be.

Good news is, though, the tumour is barely bigger since the last update. I think the only growth since then has been a small, peppercorn sized protrusion forming on the original tumour mass, but other than that, it's the same. It doesn't seem to cause her any pain or discomfort at all, so I'm hoping that the tumour is not overly aggressive and will be a slow-grower.

Thanks for the continued support, everyone.

[Alysser]

It sucks when they get older. I am sorry Tia seems to have slown down a bit, but with you I'm sure she will get the proper care she needs. Good luck to you both!!